WEARING bright clothes and sunflowers, friends and family of Tony Ballard, the teenager who drowned in the river Severn a fortnight ago, gathered for his funeral.

Dodging the rain showers, hundreds of mourners of all ages filled Worcester Cathedral yesterday to pay their last respects to the 17-year-old, the son of Worcester vicar the Rev Duncan Ballard. Tony died after getting into difficulties while swimming with three friends at the end of June.

A touching tribute was made by his best friend Will Smith, who spoke about Tony’s lively spirit, love for life, and said he would never be forgotten.

“He brought sunshine into my and everyone else’s life,” he said, adding: “His constant energy was unbelievable.”

Will, aged 17, who said he loved him more than anything in the world said: “He had a huge heart and a huge spirit and there’s a huge space where he should be in our lives.”

The Rev Dominic Melville also spoke of Tony’s “winning smile”, love for music and “zeal” for life, and urged family and friends to be thankful that he was part of their lives.

Friends wore bright outfits to the funeral to reflect Tony’s colourful spirit and bright love of life.

The hymns I Danced In the Morning and Freedom is the cry! were sung during the hour-long service.

Tony’s coffin was carried out of the cathedral building while The Beatles’s Let it Be played in the background.

A collection was held for the Midlands Air Am-bulance and the Danemere Animal Rescue centre. Mr and Mrs Ballard, of Jasmine Close, St Peter’s, Worcester, thanked everyone for their love and kindness.

Speaking after the service, the Archdeacon of Worcester Roger Morris said it been very moving.

He said Julie Farr, the headteacher of the Bishop Perowne CE College in Merriman’s Hill Road, which Tony had attended, told him about 80 per cent of his year group had come to the service.

He said: “I think today his parents will feel the huge levels of support there are for them, and that support continues beyond today.

“Grief is a long process and there is a lot of love and support for Tony’s parents and his friends as well.

“Tony was a great, colourful character. The sunflowers, the colourful outfits and tie-dye were part of the colour he brought to everyone’s lives.

“It’s going to be hard for people to think of Tony without a smile coming to their faces.

“Today has been a very, very moving day. Absolutely heart-rending in terms of the agony and grief but shot-through with the joy of someone who has brought so much life and so much light and so much love to so many people’s lives.”

The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr John Inge said: “I pray that God’s love will surround and support Tony’s family and friends on this most difficult of days, and commend Tony to God’s eternal love in Jesus. “There have been so many tributes to Tony and messages of support for his parents. “I hope these and the love and prayers of all those who gather for Tony’s funeral will sustain Duncan and Ellie, not only today, but in the difficult days ahead.”